Grain cleaning and scalping machine.



No. 64l,328. Patented Ian. I6, 1900. B. G. ROYAL.

GRAIN CLEANING AND SCALPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1897.;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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N0. 64I,328. Patented Ian. l6, I900.

' B. G. ROYAL.

GRAIN CLEANING AND SGALPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1897.) (No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

ms NOR-R15 PETERS co, PHDTO-LITNQ, WASNINOTON, a. c.

' NrrE- STATES BELFORD G. ROYAL, OF CAMDEN, NEWV JERSEY.

GRAlN CLEANING AND SCALPlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,328, dated January 16, 1906.

Application filed December 11, 1897. Serial No. 661 ,489- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BELFORD G. ROYAL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain Cleaning and Scalping Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in machines employed for the removal of hulls from wheat and other cereals,-and has for its object to provide an improved machine of this character for effectively cleaning and hulling the grain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on the line 1 1, Fig. 2, of a grain cleaning and scalping machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same,taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the grain-carriercylinder detached from the apparatus. is asimilar view of a modified form of carriercylinder; and Figs. 5, 5, and 6 are detached views of details of construction more specifically referred to hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a suitable shaft extending through a casing A and supported at its opposite ends in bearings a. On this shaftare three rings b,through the peripheries of which are formed openings b for the passage of pins 0, which are secured to the backs of the grain-carriers O. This construction is shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 5 and permits the adjustment in a radial line of each of the carriers C, the latter being locked in any desired position by set-screws d, which extend through the rings 6 and bind upon the pins 0. Each of the carriers comprises a backing-piece c, from which extend a series of wiresc separated each from the other for a distance sufficient to permit of the introduction between them of the smaller diameter of the wheat or other grain being treated, but not separated to an extent sufficient to permit of the entrance of the longer diameter of the grain, so that when treating wheat the grain will be projected by centrifugal force in the direction of its length, so that the abrading-surface may the better act I *I l N Fig. 4.

upon the board. These wires 0 are compara tively long and possess considerable resiliency, tending to bend at the upper surface of the backing-piece c and from constant bending to effect the crystallization of the metal at this point, resulting finally in the breaking of the wire. To prevent to a considerable extent the bending at this point, I endploy guard-plates 0 in which are formed openings equal in number to the number of wires on the back 0. The openings so formed are larger than the diameter of the wires, so that the latter will have considerable play. At the ends of the plates are secured slotted plates 0 through which pass bolts 0 acting to secure the said guard-plates to the backing c, the slot in the plate permitting the radial adjustment of the plates 0 so that they may be adjusted to different position in the lengths of the wires of the carrier, and thus alter the bending point of the wire. In the operation of this portion of the apparatus the major.

bend of the wire takes place at the plate 0 the effect of the bending of the wire from the plate out inducing a corresponding bend in the opposite direction between the plate and the backing-piece c.

The carriers extend from end to end of the cylinder and form between them open spaces, through which currents of air may pass to carry off the particles of hull and dirt. To the rings 1') between the various carriers are secured a series of bars E, each of which carries a small feeding-blade 6, arranged to traverse the grain along the length of the cylinder. Each blade 6 is carried by a pin 8', which extends through an opening in the bar E and is adjustably secured therein by a set-screw 6 so that when necessary said blade may be adjusted toward or from the axis of the cylinder, or its angle may be altered by using a pin as a pivot and changing the inclination of the blade with respect to the length of the cylinder and in such manner as to travel the nor of a screw to travel the grain through the machine. If desired, the long bars E may be replaced by simple radial arms extending from the shaft A,as willbe readily understood.

At the end of the cylinder is a small cylindrical air-inlet f, which extends out through a circular opening in the casing and provides for the admission of air to the interior of the cylinder, this end of the cylinder being closed, except for the air-inlet f.

The feed-blades 6 may be dispensed with by arranging the grain-carriers O on helical lines, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the graincarriers will act to traverse the grain through the machine.

Surrounding the grain-carrier cylinder is an abrading-cylinder G, formed of alternately-arranged abradingstones and foraminous material, as shown more clearlyin Fig. 2.

At the exhaust end is a suction-fan H, which acts to induce currents of air through the machine and across the path of the grain being treated, so as to remove the particles of hull and dirt. At the opposite end of the machine is a grain hopper or spout I, which deposits the grain within the cylinder G in line with a small shovel i, secured to the carrier-cylinder and adapted to constantly lift small quantities of the grain, which is then caught by the grain-carriers (J.

In the operation of the device the grain enters between the wires which form the carriers and under the influence of centrifugal force the grains are projected in the direction of their length against the abrading-stones, effecting the removal of the outer hull, and this operation is carried on continuously and the grain thrown time and again into contact with the stones until the cleaning has been effected. The helical feed-blades e or the helically-arranged brushes, as the case may be, act to feed the grains along the length of the cylinder, and they are finally discharged into an outlet-pipe L. During this operation a continuous current of air is entering through the inletfand is passing through the space between the grain-carriers 0 across the path of the grain being treated and carrying with it through the foraminous material of the cylinder G the particles of hull and dirt which may be removed from the grain.

I am aware that carriers or brushes have been arranged in cylindrical form and the spaces between them filled up with wiregauze or perforated sheet metal; but I find in practice that in such a construction the volume of air is divided into such minute streams or currents as to considerably reduce its effectiveness, and for this reason I have in the present apparatus arranged the carriers without intervening material of any kind to retard or diminish the flow of air.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a grain-cleaning machine, of the abrading-cylinder, a revolving oated above the backing-piece having perforations larger in diameter than the diameters of the wires, the said spaced wires in the backing-piece adapted to pass through the apertures in the guard-plate, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a grain-cleaning machine, of a grain-carrier comprising a backing-piece, c, a series of spaced wires, 0 car ried thereby, a guard-plate, 0 having perforations for the reception of the wires, 0 end pieces, 0 formed on said guard-plate for attachment to the backing-piece, c, and means for adjusting the said guard-plate with respect to the length of the wires, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a grain-cleaning machine, ot a grain-carrier comprising a backing-piece, c, a series of spaced wires, 0 carried thereby, and a guard-plate located above the said backing-piece and having perforations for the reception of the wires, said guard plate being adjustable with respect to the length of the wires, substantially as described.

5. The combination ina grain-cleaning ma chine, of a grain-carrier comprising a back ing-piece, c, a series of spaced wires, 0 car= ried thereby, a guard-plate, 0 located above said backing-piece at a point about midway of the said wires, perforations provided in said guard-plate adapted to receive the wires, and flanges, 0 formed on the ends of said guard-plate provided with elongated slots through which the said flanges are adj ustably bolted to the backing-piece, c, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a carrier for a graincleaning machine of the backing, c, spaced wires, 0 a guard-plate, 0 having perforations for the admission of the wires, slotted end plates, 0 secured to or formed integral with said guard-plate, and a locking-screw, 0 passed through each of said slotted end plates and securing the same to the backing, c, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of December, A. D. 1897.

BELFORD G. ROYAL. Witnesses:

EDMUND S; MILLs, HORACE PETTIT. 

